“Read my lips,” Cameron told voters on Winter Fuel Allowance
During the election, David Cameron reassured voters over the Winter Fuel Allowance by urging them to “read my lips”. Just like George HW Bush, Cameron looks set to renege on his promise.
Will Straw
Will Straw founded Left Foot Forward in 2009 and was its first Editor. Follow him on Twitter.
Are Clegg and Osborne at odds on income inequality?
Nick Clegg today set out his concerns about income inequality in a speech on social mobility. His remarks put him at odds with George Osborne who will talk only of “equality of opportunity”.
Guardian buries Labour resurgence
Today’s ICM poll for the Guardian puts the Labour party on level terms with the Conservatives for the first time since October 2007. But as noted by UK Polling Report’s Anthony Wells, “the Guardian’s report concentrates upon the findings ontest
Osborne let off the hook on spending cuts
George Osborne admitted today that his cuts would be 40% greater than Labour’s plans. But he was let off the hook by Evan Davies on his use of Budget numbers and “fairness” claims.
DfID recommend slashing 100 projects to help the world’s poor
DfID are recommending the end of 100 public commitments. Among those for the chop are support to global education and cash for health services and systems.
Coalition lies on Labour’s legacy
Chris Huhne and Baroness Warsi today attempted to lay the blame for cuts to come at Labour’s door. But the level of cuts was their ideological choice.
Coalition cuts lead to slower growth
GDP growth has been downgraded by the Bank of England partly due to the Coalition’s cuts. But growth in 2009-10 was at the top range of estimates set out last year.
Cameron’s one-sided crusade on cheats
David Cameron has announced a war on ‘welfare cheats’. But the £5.1bn welfare gap – only £1.5bn of which is cheating – is dwarfed by the £40bn tax gap.
Ed Balls the kingmaker
I’ve written a piece for the Channel 4 News website which outlines why, although he won’t be the next leader, Ed Balls is Labour’s kingmaker. Updating Left Foot Forward’s leadership model we find that the membership and trade union sectionstest
Labour members and public disagree on election defeat
Labour members and public disagree on Labour’s election defeat. While the recession is common to both, the public put immigration & Gordon Brown ahead of other factors.